91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ

Our Work

91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ embraces the responsibility to support scientists and stakeholders globally, leveraging fundamental and applied science to positively impact life on, and the sustainability of, our planet.

91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Promotes and Supports the Future of the Microbial Sciences

The microbial sciences are rapidly expanding and we’re witnessing life-changing innovations. 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ can no longer simply react to the changes around us. It is our responsibility to empower and connect microbial scientists and stakeholders around the world to shape the future of the field. 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ embraces this responsibility, leveraging fundamental and applied science to positively impact life on, and the sustainability of, our planet.

Organized around key scientific disciplines, and guided by the principle that science must serve humanity, 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ's new Strategic Roadmap solidifies 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ's role as a global society. It calls upon leaders in science, industry and society to harness the transformative power of microbes to address the most pressing challenges of our time. 

91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ's Scientific Pillars and Outcomes Infographic

91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ's Strategic Roadmap includes establishing 3 scientific units in order to achieve the desired outcomes.

Source: American Society for Microbiology

Defining 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ’s Scientific Units

To create a successful mechanism for gathering collegial input and developing scientific priorities, 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ will establish 3 scientific units with the goal of integrating diverse and dynamic perspectives. Each unit will have its own infrastructure, be led by a volunteer Scientific Chair and a full-time staff Scientific Director and be supported by expert Advisory Councils and additional support staff.


91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health

As part of 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ's recently adopted strategic framework, the 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health unit will empower microbial scientists and partners to advance the field for the benefit of society. To do this, the 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health unit will go beyond the traditional scientific society approach by adopting an expansive view of who is engaged in the space. This means fostering connections with and among anyone whose work touches on (or is touched by) the microbial sciences, not just “classic microbiologists.” It also involves identifying emerging science across disciplines, in institutions large and small and without regard for regional and geographic boundaries.

 The work of the 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health unit will inform 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ’s programs and services to meet the needs of the community, expand 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ’s reach and drive the future of the microbial sciences.

Subdisciplines

Areas included under 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health are as follows:

  • Clinical and public health microbiology.
  • Drug discovery and development.
  • Vaccine and diagnostics development.
  • Antimicrobial resistance and tolerance.
  • Microbiome.
  • Animal and plant health.
  • Food microbiology.
 

91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health Leaders

Dev Mittar, Ph.D.

American Society for Microbiology

91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health Director

Colleen Kraft, M.D.

Emory University Hospital

91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health Chair

Interim 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Health Scientific Advisory Council

David Andes, M.D.

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Duke University

Duke University

University of Texas Southwestern

Vanderbilt University

Randall Hayden, M.D.

St. Jude's Hospital

Center for Disease Control

Amy Mathers, M.D., D(ABMM)

University of Virginia

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

University of Maryland, School of Medicine

Yale School of Medicine

University of Tennessee

Tara Smith, Ph.D. 

Kent State University


91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Applied & Environmental Microbiology

The 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Applied and Environmental Microbiology unit will help connect and promote the fields of microbiology in areas relating to the environment and ecology. The unit will establish around the following subdisciplines:

  • Biodiversity.
  • Microbial ecology.
  • Environmental microbiology.
  • Bioeconomy.
  • Biofuels.
  • Bioprocess/manufacturing.
  • Fermentation sciences.
  • Synthetic biology.


The call for 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Applied and Environmental Microbiology volunteer Scientific Chair will be announced in February/March 2025. 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Members will receive an email message to apply for this exciting opportunity to shape the science of the field.


91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Mechanism Discovery

The 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Mechanism Discovery unit will drive innovation in the study of microbes and their interactions, harnessing expertise in the fundamental processes, dynamic relationships and evolutionary mechanisms that shape microbial life. The unit will include the following subdisciplines :

  • Microbial physiology and metabolism.
  • Structural and cellular microbiology.
  • Host-microbe interactions.
  • Host response to microbes.
  • Microbial communities.
  • Microbial genetics and genomics.
  • Computational microbiology and modeling.
  • Microbial evolution.


The call for 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Mechanism Discovery volunteer Scientific Chair will be announced in late winter/early spring 2025. 91Âé¶¹ÌìÃÀ Members will receive an email message to apply for this exciting opportunity to shape the science of the field.